Psalms [Vol. 1]
The Psalms teach us how to speak to one as glorious as God. As we study these ancient prayers and songs, we learn the right posture with which to approach God.
The Proper Perspective for the Troubled Life
Psalm 39:1-13 – When David was overwhelmed with God’s discipline in his life, he maintained a proper perspective and took it to God through prayer. Don’t talk to everyone else about your troubles while neglecting the one who can fix them.
What the Closing of LifeWay Stores Teaches Us About Christians
In March 2019, LifeWay Christian Resources executives made the announcement that their stores would all be closed within the year. While the publishing side of the company is doing well, the brick and mortar stores have struggled to stay afloat. Like many other chain and local book stores, LifeWay was losing money and had to make an adjustment. While the …
The Pollster God
A pollster in our culture is someone who organizes, conducts, and analyzes opinion polls. Due to their research, they can take a cross-section of society, ask some pertinent questions, and provide the rest of the culture with information regarding the leanings of the majority of people polled. In light of this information, many people will acknowledge the trends, adjust their …
Develop a Reading Plan
We all know reading is supposed to help us, but many of us also feel as if we could be more dedicated readers. The reason many of us struggle is that we don’t have a reading plan that has specific goals. If you ever wanted to become a more avid reader, it’s time to go the second mile with our …
Psalms [Vol. 1] – Series Overview
For the summer of 2019, our sermon series will be Psalms [Vol. 1]. Here are some of the reasons we are doing a series on the psalms during the summer: The psalms teach us how to speak to God. The psalms cover every range of human emotions. This huge section of Scripture is often overlooked in preaching and teaching. Since …
How Should We Handle Unfaithful Members?
As we commit to a local church, what happens when we fail to represent Jesus? The Bible is clear on expectations of how we are to confront one another to avoid drifting spiritually. Current Trend Every believer has an unspoken list of sins that is acceptable and a pronounced list that is unacceptable. Christians tend to protest the sins outside …
Is Prayer Your Steering Wheel or Your Spare Tire?
Is prayer your first attempt or your last-ditched effort? Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch Christian who not only survived the Holocaust but also rescued many Jews during this horrific time in history. Her famous quote is a wonderful question to ask today: “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” This question seeks to understand if is prayer …
Rejecting the Wiki God
Our culture worships the Wiki God. We want ever so desperately to serve a deity whom we have the freedom and capability to edit. Many people are attempting to revise the Christian faith by cutting out what they don’t like, copying favorable ideas from other worldviews, and pasting them into some hopeless attempt at a hybrid faith. How do we …
2019 Sermon Series
At Rocky Creek, we are almost halfway through the calendar year. So, why share a list of remaining 2019 sermon series? Since the Gospel of Mark took us an entire year to get through, I haven’t shared where we are going as a church after its conclusion on Easter. I want you to pray and prepare where we are going …
6 Helpful Tips for Small Groups
We all want change, but few of us were willing to do the work with one another to see that change happen. Discipleship happens within the context of intentional relationships. If you have gotten tired of spiritual stagnation, it’s time to go the 2nd mile with your small group. 6 Helpful Tips Listen to podcast below or subscribe to your …
714 Reasons to Read Wiki God
Wiki God is finally available. It is a book I authored on the attributes of God. Despite the fact that I wrote it, I do think it is a book worth reading. In fact, I have 714 reasons why. As I completed the book, I decided to compile a Scripture index at the back of the book. In the case …
Wiki God [Available Now]
My new book on the attributes of God is available now! I have never poured my soul into a project like I have this one, and I am so eager to share it with you. WIKI GOD available now (https://amzn.to/2VAg0K0) 📖. Wiki is a type of website that allows collaborative editing of its content. Anyone can become an expert on …
How to Have an Effective Group
A Gospel Group connects disciples together who are committed to growing in the gospel and going with the gospel. Psalm 1 Acts 17:10-12 If we aren’t careful, certain practices or allowances can take place to run the dynamics of a group. Here are 6 group killers: Subjective Content If the Bible isn’t your textbook, you might find temporary encouragement but …
Why Do I Feel Disconnected at Church?
As a church grows larger, how do you avoid getting lost in the crowd? Our relationships in the church will only grow according to how intentional we are. Current Trend The larger a church becomes, the easier it is to remain anonymous. People expect to make instant relationships with a church without the patient intentionality that is necessary. Discipleship doesn’t …
Why I Wrote Wiki God
Wiki God is a book that has been a work in progress…a long progress. Here’s why I wrote the book. WIKI GOD available now (https://amzn.to/2VAg0K0) . I began following Jesus when I was seven years old. Like every believer, I’ve had times of encouraging growth and times of glaring apathy. My story has significant milestones along the way that formed me into …
You Really Are a Theologian
As I grew and developed in my faith, I was given the opportunity to lead many small groups. Even as a teenager and collegiate, many people trusted me with the opportunity to open up God’s Word and teach from it to varying degrees of eager learners. Does that scare you? It did me. And it should have scared others. You …
Is Church Membership Even Biblical?
While the phrase, “church membership” is not in the Bible, the concept grounds the New Testament message and methods. Devoting yourself to a local church is essential for your soul and helpful for your congregation. Current Trend We have sold an incomplete gospel if we advertise the potential of avoiding hell while giving permission to ignore the church. Many people …
10 Tips for Great Sundays
If you have ever desired to have meaningful Sunday worship experiences with your church, the process starts on Saturday. In fact, if you don’t prepare well, your frantic pace on Sunday can rob you of meaningful interactions with God and with God’s people. In this episode of the 2nd mile podcast, I share 10 tips to ensure you have a …
Return
After the Israelites spent decades in exile, they finally were able to return home. Due to comfort and convenience, some Israelites never returned. A remnant came back to the land to reestablish the nation and await the Messiah. Life In Exile Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther conclude the historical section of the Old Testament, and they highlight Israel’s return to their …
How Much Should I Prioritize Church?
With so many expectations on us, what does committing to a church realistically look like? As we study the early church, we will see God’s intention that the church is to be more than a service you casually attend. Current Trend Devaluing the priority and the purpose of the church has dramatically decreased our expectations and effectiveness. Worldly standards have …
Membership Matters [Series Overview]
This Sunday, it will be the first time in over a year when I will not start the sermon out this way: “I want to invite you to turn with me to the Gospel of Mark…” While I have loved what God taught our church family during that time, we are moving forward to exploring further truth in the Scriptures. …
Gamechanging Tip for Bible Reading
Biblical illiteracy is on the rise. Why are so many people without a thorough understanding of scriptural teaching? One of the main reasons is we are reading it in a different way from how it was written. Subscribe to the 2nd Mile Podcast Warnings Don’t attempt a marathon before you have completed a lap. Don’t get stagnate with your time …
Why Our Children Are Messed Up
Oftentimes, parents want to know what is wrong with their children. Why do they act the way they do? Why do they say the things they say? Every parent has lifted (or thrown) their child upwards towards the skies. While this movement is meant for the child’s delight, it is a symbol of what most parents what for their children …
Exile
After the division of the kingdom into Israel and Judah, the nation continued to spiral out of control. As sin increased, God sent prophets to warn the nations about impending punishment. Their disregard led to their exile. 16 – Exile The Purpose of the Prophets Prophecy does not simply mean foretelling the future. The primary job was to speak for God to …
It’s News Too Good to Keep to Ourselves
In the concluding comments of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus commissioned the disciples to take the gospel into all the world. If we continue to follow Jesus, He will lead us to people and places that need to hear the gospel. Options for Mark’s Ending Why is the ending of Mark so uncommon from the rest of his book and missing in …
Counting Spiritual Calories
When I became an adult, I watched my metabolism drastically slow down and significantly affect weight gain. As a teenager, I could eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted and never really had to worry about extra pounds. Now, I can tell in a day if I have missed the mark on my calorie intake. I can skip carbonated drinks …
The Tomb Is [Still] Empty
As the women came on Sunday morning to anoint the deceased body of Jesus, they were shocked to realize that the tomb was empty. All of our faith and purpose in life is wrapped up in the belief that the tomb is still empty today. Our lives will be determined based upon what we believe about the resurrection of Jesus. …
Why Jesus Died
When followers of Jesus sought to care for the body of Jesus, Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus died so early in the process. Scripture teaches us not only why He died so early but also why He died so willingly. Mark 15:40-47 40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary …
Grace and Justice Meet at the Cross
Every wrong committed will be wholly punished. God doesn’t play with sin. There are no cute or playful sins in his book. “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:10). The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), and the destination for sinners is hell. No one can …
Christ Went the Second Mile
I started this podcast up with the intention of helping people go over and beyond in their walk with Jesus. Within myself, I see the tendency to do the bare minimum. Among the people that I interact with, I see the same drift as well. Instead of doing all that we can, we want to do only that which is …
How to Prepare for a Midlife Crisis
Even though the term “midlife crisis” has only been used in recent decades, the cultural phenomenon is significant in its apparent impact. Usually described to happen between the ages of 35 to 60, people reach a critical juncture where they experience different levels of disappointment regarding one’s life. A person reaches midlife, looks around at his or her body, family, …
Division
After the prominence experienced during David and Solomon’s reign, the kingdom was divided and gradually descended into a shadow of what the nation was intended to be. Led by many ungodly leaders, the nation drifted further from God’s instructions. Division Handout OVERVIEW The division phase of the Old Testament focuses on when Israel endured a civil war of sorts and divided …
The One Jesus Didn’t Save
As Jesus hung upon the sinner’s cross, people ridiculed His inability to perform one more miracle and escape His death. The greatest miracle of Jesus’ ministry was His commitment to forsake salvation from the cross so that we could experience salvation by the cross. Mark 15:21-39 21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the …
Worship Hospitality
Worship is a weekly time when God’s people gather together to celebrate Jesus. I look forward to these pivotal times of worship every week. Oftentimes, people debate as to whether worship should be geared towards members or guests. In reality, the main audience in worship should be none other than Jesus. We gather to honor Him – not expect Him …
How to Invite Someone to Church (Without Scaring Them Off)
Christians live in a time when we are comfortable talking about trivial matters and uncomfortable discussing gospel opportunities. If someone brings up your favorite sports team, you passionately defend their chances. If someone brings up movie you’ve seen, you sound like a professional cinema critic. If there is an awkward pause in a conversation, you know just how to start …
I Am Barabbas [Spoken Word]
As part of the sermon’s conclusion on Jesus and Barabbas, I wanted to summarize the powerful concept of substitution. Early on that Sunday morning, I started writing this as an element to conclude the sermon. I Am Barabbas I am Barabbas The true son of my father, Adam if you care to bother I was born into original sin Steeped …
Kingdom
After the people got what they desired in King Saul, God appointed another king to lead his people. As David took the throne, the kingdom of Israel was established. THE FALL OF KING SAUL After David defeats Goliath, Israel begins to praise David more than King Saul (1 Sam. 18:7). King Saul tries to kill David, but David will not seek …
I Am Barabbas
Intending to rid himself of the responsibility of Jesus’ death, Pilate assumed the people would choose Jesus over Barabbas to be the one prisoner released at that year’s Passover. Instead, the people chose to free a sinful criminal and condemn the sinless Messiah. Mark 15:1-20 15 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the …
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